New PIP Claim

Just a quick update - my sister had her medical assessment first thing this morning at 9.00 - she is in a lot of pain after the stress of having to be moved from home, the travelling and waiting, and was quite distressed but is tucked up in bed now and relieved it is over so will hopefully get some sleep, which she hasn't done for several nights worrying about today.

Gordon - contrary to your comment - I asked about the previous GP letter and the assessor said that she had my sister's previous records and doctors letters from her paper assessment three years ago - they have all records filed on a claimant from the start of a claim so if you have had previous assessments they have all the info from those as well.

They will provide reimbursement for the cost of the taxi to the centre and home this morning... no need for receipts...just filled in a form and the receptionist said a cheque would be sent.

After the horror stories on the internet we were both naturally worried about today and how it would go....but came away feeling the worry was for nothing and genuine claimants have nothing to fear. The assessor couldn't have been kinder...she agreed that my sister should never have been called for assessment at a centre and felt there was more than enough medical evidence to support her claim. She asked some questions - more for the benefit of the recording than anything else as she had clearly read the file and all of the doctors letters because she was extremely au fait with her health problems....and she did a brief physical assessment but felt she could see clearly that my sister is not a well person. We will hear in 2-4 weeks but she certainly didn't think there would be a problem.

Whilst waiting there were quite a lot of people coming and going - some very aggressive and very rude who screamed and shouted at the receptionist and made threats about what they would do if they weren't seen immediately. We totally understand how stressful this whole process is but one thing noted about my sister....despite her pain and distress....was her gentle and kind demeanour and how polite she was....and I believe that went a long way to making her experience as quick as it could be.

Although the form filling and evidence collecting took some time it was well worth it. Follow the advice on this website - make sure you give as much detail as you possibly can about day to day life and how your health problems affect you - if that is too daunting ask someone for help and use the forums for advice....it makes all the difference in the end and you will find what a blessing it has been to you.

I will update as soon as we hear.....and wish everyone else waiting for assessments the sort of experience my sister has had through this whole process.

Some great news arrived in the post for my sister this morning - after just two weeks wait she has been awarded enhanced rate PIP for both mobility and daily living for ten years - they paid the arrears into her account yesterday.

I am absolutely delighted for her and just want to say a massive thank you to everyone on here from her and from myself - the guides and advice on this website were crucial to knowing how to fill in forms, what information to gather to support her claim and forum advice on what to do when things went wrong. Thank you all so very much and bless you.

Will let you know about the ESA claim when we hear about that.

That fantastic news! Thanks for letting us know and for your kind words about B+W

As promised, I am just updating as my sister has now received the awaited news of her ESA claim - she has been awarded ESA and has been put in the Support Group...so that is wonderful news.....all over for now. Doesn't give any details about how long for....not sure whether we should have expected them to or not?